Officials and personnel from the forest department conducted a raid on Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium and seized materials following a tip off regarding a sandalwood smuggling racket.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Bengaluru: The famed Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, the commercial wing of the state-owned Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd (KSHDCL), has found itself in the middle of a sandalwood smuggling racket with the forest officials on Tuesday stating that the sandal permit to the emporium will be cancelled.
Following a tip off by the vigilance wing, officers led by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Conservator of Forests N Ravindra Kumar raided the emporium and booked its manager Narayana Murthy along with one Gaurav Saragoi.
As per the rule, a customer who purchases less than 4 kg of sandalwood/sandalwood products does not need permit from the department for transportation of the same. However, this rule was misused in such way that Saragoi supplied 435 kg of sandalwood over a period of six months in quantities of around 3.5 kg in each round of supply.
On his part, Saragoi claimed that he was bringing the material from Rajasthan. In addition to the wood pieces, he supplied 105 kg sandalwood powder and 10 kg sandalwood oil.
To a question, DCF Ravindra said the accused have failed to provide any official documents to show that the material was illegal and it was transported from Rajasthan legally. "We are looking into all the aspects, including smuggling. As of now, Murthy and Saragoi have been booked in the case. The sandalwood storage permission given to Cauvery Emporium will be cancelled," he said.